Dietary management for diabetes

Author: Lu Jianmin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-10-01
Features: This book includes general medical knowledge about diabetes, the impact of nutrients on diabetes, dietary recommendations and precautions for diabetic patients, dietary regulation based on syndrome differentiation, dietary regulation using food and medicine for diabetes, and dietary regulation using hypoglycemic foods. The content is rich, easy to understand, convenient to use, and safe and reliable. This book is not only suitable for clinical doctors to guide diabetic patients in dietary regulation but also for diabetic patients and their families to refer to and apply at any time.
Diabetes is a common endocrine and metabolic disease in the elderly. Due to relative or absolute insulin deficiency, it causes disorders in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the body, as well as secondary disorders in the metabolism of vitamins, water, and electrolytes. Diabetes can be divided into two major categories based on etiology: primary and secondary. Most cases are primary diabetes, with the cause not yet fully understood. It can be further divided into insulin-dependent diabetes (unstable or brittle type) and non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Secondary diabetes accounts for a very small proportion and can be caused by conditions such as pancreatitis, postpancreatectomy, acromegaly, Cushing's syndrome, and pheochromocytoma.
In the early stages of diabetes, there may be no symptoms, only increased urine sugar or slightly elevated fasting blood glucose and reduced glucose tolerance. During the symptomatic stage, diabetic patients may exhibit "three more and one less" symptoms, including polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria, and weight loss. They may also experience fatigue, thinning, skin itching, limb pain, reduced sexual function, constipation, and are prone to acute infections, tuberculosis, atherosclerosis, retinal and renal microvascular lesions, and neurological disorders. Severe cases may develop diabetic ketoacidosis and coma, with fasting blood glucose often exceeding 120 mg%, and significantly reduced glucose tolerance.
Currently, the understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of diabetes is not yet deep enough, and effective prevention and treatment measures are lacking. Therefore, dietary control and nutritional therapy are fundamental treatment methods for all types of diabetes. They play a very positive role in correcting metabolic disorders, alleviating symptoms, preventing complications, reducing mortality, and prolonging life.